Katie’s karate is getting noticed

An 11-year-old budding martial arts star from Great Glen has returned from representing her country at an international wadokai tournament in Budapest.

Katie Burnham, who only took up the sport two years ago, fought off a number of contenders to claim a bronze medal in the individual kata category, a silver medal in the pairs kata and a gold medal in the individual kumite, age 10-11 bracket.

Kata is a detailed choreographed set of moves either performed as an individual or in a pair, while kumite is a sparring session against an adversary.

The medals are the latest in a long line of successes for the youngster who began training at the Parklands Leisure Centre in Oadby a little over two years ago.

In February last year she was invited to begin training with the England Wadokai squad and has also begun attending competitions in Walsall, Derby, Leicester and Bristol.

Later in 2014 she became an official member of the Wadokai England squad and represented her country in a European competition in Reading, gaining a bronze medal in individual kumite and silver in team kumite.

Her achievements mean she has been able to train with Aimee Sell, world medallist and three times European silver medallist and team bronze medallist, and EKF National Kumite Coach Dan Willie Thomas.